Modularized light system, control module thereof and power module thereof
A modularized light system, a control module and a power module are provided. The modularized light system comprises at least a light module, a control module and a power module. The internal and external wiring of the power source is integrated into the power module. The wiring of the control circuit and the power transmission is integrated into the control module. The wiring of the power transmission and the light source is integrated into the light module. A novel design uses a single power module and a control module for transmitting and controlling the power to one or a plurality of light module. One or more connection units detachably connect the light modules. Thus, the system installation is simplified and design coordinated with advantages such as fast assembly, saving assemble time, saving effort, a neat appearance, no wire entanglement, and flexibility of extending lighting range can be achieved.
1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a light system; in particular, to a modularized light system, a control module thereof and a power module thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
General residential interior design uses hanging cabinet facilities for home storage items, and the space below the cabinets usually designed to place a workbench. Personal book cabinet and the reading desktop below the bookcase, or the wide cabinets in the kitchen and the cooking bench below the cabinets need under cabinet lighting with proper size fitting in with the corresponding cabinet. In other words, the lighting below the cabinet is an important part of indoor lighting. As the cost of the LED (light-emitting diode) decreases, along with the development of lighting technology and the advantage of saving energy for the LED, the LED has gradually been the main light source of the cabinet lighting for residential design.
Most of the commercially available LED cabinet lights are long cartridge type, such as the built-in cabinet light shown in
The object of the present disclosure is to provide a modularized light system and a control module and a power module thereof utilizes modularized connection manner to provide a plurality of combinations of light system, in order to meet the requirement of diverse lighting needs.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modularized light system comprises at least one light module, a control module and a power module, wherein the internal and external wiring of the electric power source is integrated into the one power module. The wiring of the control circuit and the electric power transmission is integrated into the one control module. The wiring of the electric power transmission and the light source is integrated into the light module. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a complete light system is established by serially connecting one power module, one control module and at least one light module while utilizing detachable connection units. Thus, one power module delivers the electric power to one control module and one or more light modules, and one control module is used to control turning-on or turning-off the one or more light modules. Wherein the control module can be connected anywhere in the system after the power module.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a modularized light system is provided. The modularized light system comprises a first light module, a control module, a first connection unit and a power module. The first light module has a first input portion and a first output portion. The first input portion has a first power terminal and a first control terminal. The first output portion has a second power terminal and a second control terminal, wherein the first light module receives a control signal through the first control terminal of the first input portion and receives a direct current (DC) power through the first power terminal of the first input portion, and the first light module emits light according to the control signal. The control module comprises a human machine interface, an output portion and an input portion. The output portion has a power output terminal and an output control terminal. Further, the input portion can be designed to have the same connection as that of input portion of a light module. The human machine interface of the control module generates the control signal and outputs the control signal through the output control terminal and the control terminal of input portion. The first connection unit has a pair of first power wires and a first control wire. The output portion of the control module detachably connects to the first input portion of the first light module through the first connection unit, wherein the pair of power wires is used for detachably connecting to the first power terminal of the first input portion and the power output terminal of the output portion. The first control wire is for detachably connecting to the first control terminal of the first input portion and the output control terminal of the output portion. The first power terminal of the first input portion of the first light module receives the DC power from the control module through the pair of first power wires of the first connection unit. The first control terminal of the first input portion of the first light module receives the control signal from the control module through the first control wire of the first connection unit. The power module has a power output portion, and the power module detachably connects to the input portion of the control module, for providing the DC power to the control module.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a control module is provided. The control module is used for detachably connecting to a first light module and a power module of a modularized light system. Further, the control module can also be used for detachably connecting between two light modules or at the end of a light module. The first light module has a first input portion and a first output portion. The first input portion has a first power terminal and a first control terminal. The first output portion has a second power terminal and a second control terminal. The control module comprises a human machine interface, an output portion and an input portion. The human machine interface generates a control signal. The output portion electrically connects to the human machine interface. The output portion has a power output portion and an output control terminal. The power output terminal outputs a DC power, and the output control terminal outputting the control signal. The input portion electrically connects to the human machine interface and the output portion. The input portion detachably connects to the power module, for receiving the electrical power from the power module. The output portion of the control module detachably connects to the first input portion of the first light module through the first connection unit. A pair of first power wires of the first connection unit is used for detachably connecting the first power terminal of the first input portion and the power output portion of the output portion. A first control wire of the first connection unit is used for detachably connecting the first control terminal of the first input portion and the output control terminal of the output portion. The first power terminal of the first input portion of the first light module receives the DC power from the control module through the pair of first wires of the first connection unit. The first control terminal of the first input portion of the first light module receives the control signal from the control module through the first control wire of the first connection unit.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a power module is provided. The power module is used for a modularized light system. The modularized light system has a first light module and a control module. The power module detachably connects to the control module of the modularized light system. The control module has a output portion and an input portion. The first light module has a first input portion and a first output portion. The first input portion has a first power terminal. The first output portion has a second power terminal. The power module comprises a power output portion. The power output portion detachably connects to the input portion of the control module, for providing a DC power to the control module. The output portion of the control module detachably connects to the first input portion of the first light module through a first connection unit. A pair of first power wires of the first connection unit is used for detachably connecting to the first power terminal of the first input portion and a power output terminal of the output portion, wherein the first power terminal of the first input portion of the first light module receives the DC power from the control module through the pair of first power wires of the first connection unit.
In summary, a modularized light system and a control module and a power module thereof are offered. Modularized connection manner is utilized to achieve various combinations of lighting, in order to meet the requirement of diverse lighting needs. It is worth mentioning that the design of this invention unlike the concept of the well-known junction box which only providing wire connections. The characteristics of this invention are listed in the following: (1) integrating the electric power transmission wires, the control signal wires and the light source into one module box for being the light module; (2) integrating the electric power transmission wires and the control circuit into one module box for being the control module; (3) integrating the AC/DC power wiring and the power driving circuit into one module box for being the power module. The disclosed embodiments utilize the concept of modularized design, in order to use the space efficiently, reduce the number and the length of the wires, and avoid wire entanglement. This concept of modularized design could provide high flexibility to the system design and also offer convenience of the assembling for enhancing the usability of the system.
In order to further the understanding regarding the present disclosure, the following embodiments are provided along with illustrations to facilitate the disclosure of the instant disclosure.
The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions are exemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the present disclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to the present disclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and appended drawings.
[An Embodiment of a Modularized Light System, a Control Module and a Power Module Thereof]
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The control module 11 may comprises a variety of human machine interfaces such a touch control switch, a button switch or a touchless switch (which may be an infrared sensor switch), for the user to manipulate the light system. Due to the modularized design, the control module 11 may be set up at a position anywhere within the system and after the power module allowing the user to manipulate conveniently, and also the position of the light source 10 is not influenced.
The light source 10 may comprises at least a light module or a plurality of light modules independent to each other, and the light modules could be detachably connected or removable. As shown in
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The first light module 101 has a first input portion 1011 and a first output portion 1012, and the first input portion has a first power terminal 1011a and a first control terminal 1011b. The first power terminal 1011a and the first control terminal 1011b are both electrical connectors. For example, the first power terminal 1011a is a male electrical plug or a female electrical outlet. It is worth mentioning that the first power terminal 1011a is for providing the direct current (DC) power loop, thus the first power terminal 1011a generally includes two connectors or two jacks. The first control terminal 1011b is adapted for transmitting the control signals, thus at least one connector or jack is needed accordingly.
The first output portion 1012 has a second power terminal 1012a and a second control terminal 1012b. The first output portion 1012 of the first light module 101 would only be used when the user needs to connect the second light module 102 after to the first light module 101 in series. When the first light module 101 is not connected to the second light module 102, the second power terminal 1012a and the second control terminal 1012b are opened without any function. The manner of the second light module 102 connecting to the first light module 101 would be further described in the subsequent embodiment shown in
The first light module 101 receives the control signal through the first control terminal 1011b of the first input portion 1011, and receives the DC power through the first power terminal 1011a of the first input portion 1011. The first light module 1011 emits light according to the control signal.
The control module 11 comprises a human machine interface (HMI) (which is not shown in
Please refer to
Specifically, when the first light module 101 is further connected to the second light module 102, the connection manner is described as follows. The second light module 102 has a second input portion 1021 and a second output portion 1022. The second input portion 1021 has a third power terminal 1021a and a third control terminal 1021b. The second output portion 1022 has a fourth power terminal 1022a and a fourth control terminal 1022b. The second light module 102 receives the control signal through the third control terminal 1021b of the second input portion 1021 and receives the DC power through the third power terminal 1021a of the second input portion 1021. The second light module 102 emits light according to the control signal.
A second connection unit 14 has a pair of second power wires 141 and at least one second control wire 142. The first output portion 1012 of the first light module 101 detachably connects to the second input portion 1021 of the second light module 102 through the second connection unit 14, wherein the pair of the second power wires 141 is used for detachably connecting to the second power terminal 1012a of the first output portion 1012 and the third power terminal 1021a of the second input portion 1021. The second control wire 142 detachably connects to the second control terminal 1012b of the first output portion 1012 and the third control terminal 1021b of the second input portion 1021.
Please refer to
For example, the third light module 103 has a third input portion (which is the same as the second input portion 1021) and a third output portion (which is the same as the second output portion 1022). The third input portion has a fifth power terminal (which is the same as the third power terminal 1021a) and a fifth control terminal (which is the same as the third control terminal 1021b). The third output portion has a sixth power terminal (which is the same as the fourth power terminal 1022a) and a sixth control terminal (which is the same as the fourth control terminal 1022b), wherein the third light module 103 receives the control signal through the fifth control terminal of the third input portion and receives the DC power through the fifth power terminal of the third input portion, and the third light module 103 emits light according to the control signal. The third connection unit 15 (as shown in
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Furthermore, the control module 11 does not need to be right after a power module. It can be positioned anywhere among the light modules or at the end of the system. The multiple control modules with the same or different human machine interfaces may be connected in the system. These provide great convenience of manipulating the system performance.
Please refer to
A cabinet system, particularly for kitchen cabinet, is often installed in a right angle corner in a kitchen area with two cabinet units integrated at the junction of two adjacent walls angled at 90 degrees. At the junction location where two cabinet units are integrated together a “L” shaped connector is often used to bridge the power transmission (signal transmission may also be needed for synchronization purpose) between the two adjacent under cabinet lights angled at 90 degrees with each other. In the absent of such “L” connector the connection between the two adjacent light modules often looks disordered. Furthermore, the junction location is often a dark area due to lack of an illumination unit suitable for installation at the junction location. Referring to
According to above descriptions, a modularized light system and a control module and a power module thereof utilizes modularized connection manner to provide a plurality of combinations of light system, in order to meet the requirement of diverse lighting needs. Advantages of the embodiments are listed in the following: (1) A wire installation with more safety is provided. In security, the commercially available hardwire with higher voltage (such as 110V or 220V) is usually cooperated with a protection hose (applied for the European standards or American standard for example). In the modularized light system of the present disclosure, only the power module needs to connect with the hardwires, other modules such as the control module and the light module do not need to connect with the hardwires, thus applied voltage on the wiring of the control module, the light module and the connection units is lower voltage. Additionally, due to the lower voltage wires, the user does not need to worry about the leakage of electricity (in which the voltage of the leakage voltage is relative lower) when the user use the hand to touch (the switch) for manipulation. (2) A single power and a single control module are utilized to control one or more light modules, thus not all of the light modules (which may be the cabinet lights for example) have to connect with the corresponding power and control circuit in appearance. (3) The connections between the light modules are simple and can be adjusted as needed. (4) The light system could use the space efficiently, the number and the length of the wires can be reduced, thus the wire entanglement can be avoided while extending the system, and thereby the design and construction of the light system simplified. (5) The costs can be saved, and only one control module is needed even if multiple light modules are serially connected, for example: a multiple serially connected cabinet light shares the same control module. (6) The housing shapes for the three modules can be design coordinated to make the whole connected lighting system look elegantly organized in addition to the functional advantages.
The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure; however, the characteristics of the present disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure delineated by the following claims.
Claims
1. A modularized light system, comprising:
- at least a light module wherein a first light module having a first input portion and a first output portion, the first input portion having a first power terminal and a first control terminal, the first output portion having a second power terminal and a second control terminal, wherein the first light module receives a control signal through the first control terminal of the first input portion or the second control terminal of the first output portion and receives a direct current (DC) power through the first power terminal of the first input portion, the first light module emits light according to the control signal;
- a control module, comprising a human machine interface, an input portion and an output portion, the input portion having a power input terminal and an output control terminal, the output portion having a power output terminal and an output control terminal, the human machine interface of the control module generating the control signal and outputting the control signal through the output control terminal of both input portion and output portion;
- at least a connection unit wherein a first connection unit has a pair of first power wires and a first control wire, wherein the pair of power wires are used for detachably connecting between the first power terminal of the first input portion of the first light module and the power output terminal of the output portion of the control module, or between the second power terminal of the first output portion of the first light module and the input power terminal of input portion of the control module, the first control wire is for detachably connecting between the first control terminal of the first input portion of the first light module and the output control terminal of output portion of the control module, or between second control terminal of the first output portion of the first light module and the output control terminal of the input portion of the control module, wherein the direct current power and the control signal are transmitted between the control module and the first light module through the first connection unit; and
- a power module, having a power output portion, detachably connecting to the input portion of the control module or the first input portion of the first light module, for providing the direct current power to the control module.
2. The modularized light system according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a second light module, having a second input portion and a second output portion, the second input portion having a third power terminal and a third control terminal, the second output portion having a fourth power terminal and a fourth control terminal, wherein the second light module receives the control signal through the third control terminal of the second input portion and receives the direct current power through the third power terminal of the second input portion, the second light module emits light according to the control signal; and
- a second connection unit, having a pair of second power wires and a second control wire, the first output portion of the first light module detachably connecting to the second input portion of the second light module through the second connection unit, wherein the pair of the second power wires are used for detachably connecting to the second power terminal of the first output portion and the third power terminal of the second input portion, the second control wire is for detachably connecting to the second control terminal of the first output portion and the third control terminal of the second input portion.
3. The modularized light system according to claim 2, further comprising:
- a third light module, having a third input portion and a third output portion, the third input portion having a fifth power terminal and a fifth control terminal, the third output portion having a sixth power terminal and a sixth control terminal, wherein the third light module receives the control signal through the fifth control terminal of the third input portion and receives the direct current power through the fifth power terminal of the third input portion, the third light module emits light according to the control signal; and
- a third connection unit, having a pair of third power wires and a third control wire, the second output portion of the second light module detachably connecting to the third input terminal of the third light module through the third connection unit, wherein the pair of third power wires are for detachably connecting to the fourth power terminal of the second output portion and the fifth power terminal of the third input portion, the third control wire is for detachably connecting to the fourth control terminal of the second output portion and the fifth control terminal of the third input portion.
4. The modularized light system according to claim 1, wherein the control module is positioned at an end of the system through the connection unit.
5. The modularized light system according to claim 1, further comprising multiple light modules, wherein the control module is positioned between two of the light modules through the connection units.
6. The modularized light system according to claim 1, further comprising more than one control modules and multiple light modules, wherein each of the control modules is coupled between any two light modules.
7. The modularized light system according to claim 1, wherein the human machine interface of the control module is a touch control switch, a button switch or a touchless switch.
8. The modularized light system according to claim 1, wherein the power module further comprises:
- a body; and
- a battery containing portion, disposed in the body, being used for installing at least a battery, the battery being used for providing the direct current power.
9. The modularized light system according to claim 1, wherein the power module further comprises:
- an AC/DC conversion unit, converting an alternative current power to the direct current power.
10. A control module, used for detachably connecting in a modularized light system comprising at least one light module and a power module, each light module having an input portion and an output portion, each of the input portion and output portion having a power terminal and a control terminal, the control module comprising:
- a human machine interface, generating a control signal;
- an output portion, electrically connecting to the human machine interface, having a power output terminal and an output control terminal, the power output terminal outputting a power, the output control terminal outputting the control signal; and
- an input portion, electrically connecting to the human machine interface portion, having a power input terminal and an output control terminal, the input portion detachably connecting to the power module or the preceding light module, for receiving the electrical power, the input portion also deliver the output control signal to the preceding light module;
- wherein the output portion of the control module detachably connects to the input portion of the next light module through a connection unit, wherein a pair of power wires of the connection unit are used for detachably connecting the power terminal of the input portion of the light module and the power output terminal of the output portion, a control wire of the connection unit is used for detachably connecting the control terminal of the input portion of the light module and the output control terminal of the output portion, wherein the power terminal of the input portion of the light module receives the power from the control module through the pair of power wires of the connection unit, the control terminal of the input portion of the light module receives the control signal from the control module through the control wire of the connection unit.
11. The control module according to claim 10, wherein the human machine interface of the control module is a touch control switch, a button switch or a touchless switch.
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20100109530 | May 6, 2010 | Eckel |
20100176744 | July 15, 2010 | Lee |
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Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 7, 2014
Date of Patent: Aug 7, 2018
Patent Publication Number: 20160135263
Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen (Taipei)
Primary Examiner: Chanh Nguyen
Assistant Examiner: Jonathan G Cooper
Application Number: 14/535,757
International Classification: H05B 33/08 (20060101); F21V 23/02 (20060101); F21K 9/60 (20160101); F21V 23/00 (20150101); F21Y 115/10 (20160101);